Lizzie s



(No Model.)

L. S. BARR. POSTAGE STAMP PENDING APPARATUS. No. 446,434. Patented Feb. 17, 1891.

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lilnTTnio STT/irre FaTnn-T @Trient LIZZIE S. DARE., OF NEV YORK, N.v Y.

POSTAGEuSTAit/PMVENDENG APPAHTUS.

[SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,484, dated February 17, 1891.

Application filed July l5, 1890i Serial No. 358,867. (No model.)

To 'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIZZIE S. DARH, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at N ew York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Postage-Stam p-Vending Apparatus; and I- do hereby declareV the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in coin-operated vending machines or apparatus; and it consists in such features of arrangement, construction, and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a coin-operated vending-machine from which a person may obtain postage-stamps of any denomination by simply placing or depositing within such`1nachine a coin correspending in value to the particular denomination of postagestamp desired.

A further object of the invention is te provide a machine or apparatus of the character referred to which may readily be placed in or combined with the common or ordinary street letter-boxes now in use, thereby becoming a great convenience to the public at large.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character referred to, in which both the slots through which the coins are deposited, as well as those from which the stamps are withdrawn, shall he protected against the entrance of moisture to the interior mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to render the operative parts of the machine or apparatus so positive and reliable in their action that the exit of a stamp is always certain on placing or depositing within the machine the proper coin.

The invention has still further objects in view, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereinw Figure l represents a side elevation of the operative parts of my apparatus, the same being shown as arranged within an inclosing box or casing, which latter is shown broken out an d partly in sectiom Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of Fig. l, taken on the line xx thereof. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the operative parts of my improved apparatus, the same showing the arrangement thereof when ready to be operated. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal elevation cfa portion of the front of the box or casing,in which the arrangement of separate lids is shown for each set of stamp and coin slots. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views, to which more particular reference will be made hereinafter.

In carrying my invention into effect it is proposed to either combine the same with the ordinary street letter-boxes now in common use in cities, or te provide separate boxes or cases therefor and have them located at convenient places for the accommodation of the general public. ln either case the box or casing is to be provided with a number of slots for the passage or exit of the stamps, as well as corresponding slots to receive the coins. Above the slots suitable indications are to be made, so as to indicate what denomination of stamp may be obtained from a particular slot on depositing a coin of value corresponding with such denomination, it being understood that as many denominations of stamps may be contained within the box as there are de nominations in use, and if a person should desire a one-cent stamp or a two-cent stamp all that it would be necessary to do would be simply to deposit the proper coin or coins within the proper slot.

Each roll of stamps is of course independently operated from the other, and in order to prevent adhesion of the stamps strips of oiled paper are placed on the under surface thereof and wound` upon the rolls, the said strips being perforated correspondingly to the stamp-strips and intended to be paid out and torn off as the stamps are used up.

In order that a more complete understand ing of my invention may be had, l would refer to the accompanying drawings by the letters of reference marked thereon, and wherein A represents the box or casing for containing the operative devices or mechanism, the said box or casing being somewhat in the nature of 'the ordinary street letter-box, as shown,

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except that at intervals along its front a number of slots are formed-such, for instance, as is shown at a. Beneath each slot a is a coin-slot b, so inclined through the wall of the box or casing as to facilitate ready entrance and slipping through of a coin.

Formed in the front of the box for its entire length is a longitudinal curved depression or gutter c, and coinciding or flush with the lower' edge of this gutter are the upper edges of a number of metal plates d. The said metal plates d are located intermediate of each set of slot-s a and l), and serve to support between them the separate lids for closing over said sets of slots. (See Figs. l and and 4.) The lids open upwardly and are received by the depression or gutter c, which enables such lids to be raised to a much greater extent than would be the case if the gutter were not present. The main purpose, however, of both the said gutter and plates CZ is to obtain a hinge-like fastening for the lids to the side of the box without in any way cutting the box or forming openings therein for the purpose of a fastening, and in-l this way access of moisture to the interior of the box is rendered absolutely impossible. Suitable openings emay be formed in the sides of the box at each end of the gutter, so as to allow the escape of any water which might accumula-te in said gutter.

Each set of stamps is wound upon a roll or spool (not seen in the drawings) of suitable light metal, and each roll has formed or attached thereto rigidly a ratchet-wheel g, the teeth of which are at a distance apart equal to the length of a stamp, so that when said wheels are turned the distance of one tooth the spool or roll will be caused to move or turn far enough to cause a stamp to be delivered through the slot a. Oiled paper o is wound upon the spool or roll intermediate of the stamps, so as to prevent adhesion of the latter, and such oiled paper is supposed to be perforated correspondingly to the` perforations dividing the stamps, thus enabling it to be torn off each time a stamp is torn oif.

The stamps are guided from the roll to the slot a by means of a hollow flat guide Meerresponding in width to the width of the stamps, and which guide h is supported on each of its sides by means of two strips e' i, secured to and extending upwardly from two uprights j j, permanently secured tothe bottom of the box A, as shown. These uprights j j serve to support between them pivot-ally a tray or plat- Y form B, onto which the coin falls after passing through the slot l), the weight of the coin serving to tilt the said tray or platform, and vthus set the machine in motion.

Attached to the two sides of the tray near- -est the front of the box A are two arms 7c 7c, which are united at their upper ends by a panel or slide l, which, when the parts are in their normal positions, comes up between the guide h and slot a, (in the manner shown in Fig. 1,) thus preventing the exit or withrecast drawal of a stamp until the slide Z has been drawn downwardly through the tilting of the tray.

To one side of the tray or platform, at the innermost end thereof, is an upright arm or lever C, formed at its upper end with a rulejoint D, which constitutes a hinged projection or pawl m for engaging with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel g, and thereby turn the said wheel the distance of one tooth each time the tray is tilted by a coin. After the tray has been tilted and the wheel caused to turn the said tray will return to its original position, and by virtue of the joint D the pawl m will be permitted to pass downwardly over the next succeeding tooth and fall down into place beneath the same, ready again for a similaroperation. The trayis counterpoised between its supports, so as to always resume its place after each operation.

The several spools which hold the stamps are independently operative, but they are all mounted on one common shaft E, which, for convenience in enabling the rolls to be lifted from the box, is supported between the two ends of the box by nuts similar to those shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These nuts receive the ends of the shaft, and by virtue of the slot u being formed in one of them the shaft can be readily slipped into place and again lifted out whenever it may be desired.

Each time a new roll of stamps is placed in position the end of the strip is always directed by hand into the guide therefor 'and the first stamp of the strip brought into proper position to be caused to pass out on the first deposit of a coin; also, the first one or two winds of the strip on the roll are of plain paper, (connected to the stamp-strip,)

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so that the machine will operate to force out the last stamp of the strip. If this were not provided for, when the last stamp was off the roll the said roll would have no effect in urging it forward through the guide and slot.

It is thought that from the foregoing description the construction and arrangement, as well as the operation, of the several parts of my invention will be fully understood; but it may be stated, for clearness, as follows: On depositing a coin of the proper value through one of the slots from which it maybe expected to receive a stamp of a particular denomination, the said coin will be directed on the tray by means of the slide s, (new referred to for the first time,) and on striking the tray or platform will'tilt the same downwardly, and the coin will fall into any suitable till or receptacle which may have been previously provided therefor in the bottom of the box or casing A. The tilting of the tray will cause the pawl m to turn the ratchet-wheel the distance of one tooth, and this will turn the stamp-roll a distance equal to the length of a stamp, and one stamp will be caused to emerge from the slot a, the slide Z having been already drawn down (as hereinbefore explained) to permit this to occur. After this the parts will all rc- IIO sume their original positions, ready to operate again in the same way.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a postage-stamp-vending apparatus, the combination of a tray adapted to be tilted by the weight ot a coin, a roll of postagestamps, a pawl and ratchet for operating the roll through the action of the tray, a guide for the passage of the stamps, and a support for said guide extending from the support for the tray, substantially as described..

2. In a postage-stamp-vending apparatus, the combination of a tray adapted to be tilted by the weight of a coin, a roll of postage` stamps, an inclosing box or casing having slots for the passage of the stamps and entrance of the coin, a guide for the stamps, a slide for closing the guide, and a pawl and ratchet for operating the roll, both of which are operated through the action of the tray.

In a postage-stamp-vending apparatus, the combination, with a tray adapted to be tilted by the weight of a coin and an inclosing box or casing having a slot for the passage ot the stamps, of a slide moving across such opening and operated through the action of the tray, substantially as described.

4. In a postage-stamp-vending apparatus, the combination, with a suitable box having slots for the entrance of a coin and the outward passage of stamps, of the roll of postagestamps, the guide therefor coinciding'with the stamp-slot, the tilting tray, the hinged paWl and ratchet, and the slide for closing the stamp-guide, substantially as described.

5. In a postage-stamp-vending apparatus, the inclosing box or casing having the sets of stamp and coin slots ab and the longitudinal curved depression or gutter c, in combination with separate lids closing over said slots and adapted to turn upwardlyinto the gutter, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

(i. In a postage-stamp-vending apparatus, the combination, with the box or casing having the sets of slots a h and gutter c, of the plates secured intermediate of said sets of slots and the separate lids working between said plates and turning upwardly into the gutter c, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afl-ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LIZZIE S. DARR.

Witnesses: Y

R. P. MOORE, FRANCIS J. A. DARR. 

